3rd Graders Visit the West Oakland Mural Project
To educate 3rd graders about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the Civil Rights Movement, and the origin of Black History Month, teachers Priti and Annie illuminate the stories of historically underrepresented activists and changemakers: women of color. They explain how much more effective activists and changemakers can be when they work together as a group, and highlight essential contributions from many different women of color during the Civil Rights Movement to emphasize that Dr. King did not work alone.
Within these lessons, students learn about the contributions of the women of the Black Panther Party, whose involvement was invaluable to the organization’s fight for justice and equality. A trip to the West Oakland Mural Project allowed us to bring this learning to life!
The West Oakland Mural Project is a permanent art project and museum that honors the legacy of the women of the Black Panther Party. In preparation for their visit, students used an activity book created by Jilchristina Vest (@missjilie), the activist who created the mural project and runs the museum. 3rd graders learned the names of Black Panther women, who made up two-thirds of the Party’s membership, and some of the 65 community programs created by the Party, such as the Free Breakfast for Children Program, free medical and dental clinics, free legal aid, and many other community services that specifically supported children and elders.
Our time at the mural and museum was incredibly meaningful. We heard about the amazing mural from Jilchristina herself, which features towering portraits of five women from the Black Panther Party, each of whom represents one of their many community programs. Students then explored the museum which held many photographs, papers, and artifacts displaying the history of the Black Panther Party.
Before returning to school, students left flowers at the base of the mural to honor the tireless work of the women of the Black Panther Party, many of whom are still alive and continue to fight for social justice today.
